4 prong vs 6 prong setting in ERING mounting.

[Ravinmad]

ring will be white gold.

I have read and heard several different arguements on the 4 vs 6 prong arguement, and then there's the option of using platinum for the setting for strength?

Chime in with your opinion and please back it up with something more then there's 2 more prongs to hold the stone.

My mom claimed her insurer lowered the rate on her .5ct D IF stone ERING rider when she had it reset in a 4 prong setting. Sadly she lost the stone later on and her policy was lapse at that time.....


Thanks in advance,
Doug

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I have had both over the years. It is a good idea to get platinum prongs (actually it would be called a platinum head with a white gold shank) because they will bend if hit (or whatever) whereas gold is more brittle and can break, so they say! I have had both and the only problem I had with the wg prongs was that they do wear down over time. I eventually had to have the prongs retipped. Platinum displaces when it scratches, but it can be polished without losing metal. So I'd go with the platinum prongs.

I think both kinds are safe most of the time. But your mom's example is a good one regarding the disadvantage of 4 prongs (if she lost the stone out of the setting). If one prong gets pulled loose on a 6 prong setting, the diamond shouldn't go anywhere, but it can with 4. I did have one wg prong get pulled loose one time, but I thankfully saw it before my stone could fall out. I think a basket can make a 4 prong a little safer. But I am about to change to a 6 prong because I think I like it a little better and it does offer a little more protection for the edges of the stone.

 

[Bella_mezzo]

In general, I prefer how 6 prongs look (provided they are fluid prongs) for solitares. They make round stones look round (I think 4 prongs make rounds look square in a weird way.) There are thousands of round solitare settings and IMO they look really different. Check out some of the recent solitare setting threads for comparisons...my fave solitares are from jewels by erica grace, mark morrell, and vatche.

 

[hann]

I do prefer the 4 prong just cos it exposes more of the ring. and since my GF works in an office, it should be pretty safe.

As for the square bit.. yeah i'm not fond of it looking squarish so i'm solving mine by getting a NSEW setting, it looks much better to me w.r.t shape.

 

[ame]

I prefer 6 prongs for both safety and because it keeps the round shape round, as well as giving an illusion of slightly larger stone from afar. If it's set slightly higher and in an open setting, the diamond gets lots of light. I personally despise low settings, for many reasons, but one of which is that it hides the coolest part of the diamond!